Sustainable Victorian regions
While Victoria’s economy continues to perform well in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are people and regions who are at risk of being left behind.
The Framework seeks to direct government spending to businesses operating in postcodes identified as experiencing the greatest relative socio- conomic disadvantage. Government buyers are expected to either procure directly from businesses in these regions or set targets for employment and/or training outcomes for residents of these postcodes.
Targeting regions experiencing entrenched disadvantage means more job opportunities in those areas and helps ensure they can receive a bigger share of the economic opportunities Victoria has to offer.
Case Study: Major Transport Infrastructure Authority and CPB Contractors
While providing employment opportunities and skills-based training is a key pillar of the Framework, the Sustainable Victorian Regions objective focuses specifically on job readiness and employment opportunities for people in Victorian regions experiencing entrenched disadvantage. Supporting people living in regions with entrenched disadvantage was an important part of the negotiations with CPB Contractors when they were awarded the tender for works to upgrade the M80 Ring Road.
As part of the M80 Ring Road project, the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority worked with CPB Contractors on multiple upgrades including freeway widening, enhanced on- and off-ramps, and the installation of a new freeway management system between Sydney Road and Edgars Road in Melbourne’s north. This freeway management system features overhead electronic signs which will provide real time travel information for drivers and help manage traffic flow. The freeway management system also includes overhead variable speed limits and ramp signals to manage access onto the Ring Road.
CPB Contractors is the Australasian construction company of the CIMIC Group, who have designed and built infrastructure across numerous key sectors including rail, tunnelling, defence, building and resources infrastructure.
Throughout the project, CPB Contractors engaged 4 businesses in regions of entrenched disadvantage. Regions of entrenched disadvantage can be
identified using the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, categorised by postcode. These businesses were based in Dandenong South, Wendouree, Newcomb and Breakwater, which are 4 regions with postcodes in Victoria with the lowest ranking – decile 1 – which are considered the most disadvantaged regions. Businesses based in these regions not only service those living in the area, they also provide employment opportunities for people in the region.
Over the life of the project, CPB Contractors engaged these businesses to provide a wide range of services including surveying, security, plant hire, personal protective equipment, cleaning services and products, general construction and labour, catering, mailout, printing services and signage. This resulted in close to $10 million spent supporting the sustainability of areas experiencing entrenched disadvantage and providing jobs to people living in those regions.
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